World Cup booze ban for 7,300 offenders thanks to crime-cutting alcohol tags

Thousands of offenders will be banned from drinking alcohol during the World Cup under a major government drive to cut booze‑related crime.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that around 7,300 people serving community sentences or recently released from prison will be fitted with alcohol‑monitoring tags at some point during the tournament. About 5,000 were already wearing the devices when the competition began, with a further 2,300 expected to be tagged in the coming weeks.

The tags, which analyse alcohol levels in sweat every 30 minutes, alert probation officers if an offender has been drinking. Breaches can lead to sanctions including a return to court or prison. Officials say the technology is accurate enough to distinguish between environmental exposure — such as being in a pub or fan zone — and actual consumption.

The move comes as police and local authorities prepare for the surge in drinking typically associated with major football fixtures. Alcohol is a factor in violence, anti‑social behaviour and disorder, and the government estimates booze‑fuelled crime costs the UK economy £21 billion a year.

Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Minister Lord Timpson said major sporting events should be a time for national celebration, not disorder. He described the tags as “a wake‑up call” for offenders, adding that “one slip‑up could send them to jail”.

Since their national rollout in 2020, offenders subject to alcohol bans have remained sober for 97% of monitored days, according to government data. Around one in five people supervised by probation are identified as having an alcohol problem.

The tagging scheme is part of a wider expansion of monitoring technology. Tens of thousands more offenders are expected to be tagged over the next three years, and for the first time there will be a presumption that all prison leavers are tagged on release. Probation funding is also set to rise by up to £700 million by 2028/29, including the recruitment of at least 1,300 additional probation officers.

The Ministry of Justice says the measures will strengthen supervision, reduce reoffending and help keep communities safe during one of the biggest events of the summer.